Water Tower

Chapter 7

"How was your night?" Jared asked me over breakfast.

"Oh, um, it was good." I say, shoving gravy and biscuits in my mouth.

"I saw you." He says.

"What?" I almost choke on my food.

"I was there Mandy." He says, taking a drink of his orange juice.

"Why were you there? You're like, 17." I say.

"I have friends Mandy." He laughs.

"Well. How was it running from the cops?" I ask, leaning closer.

"Oh god! It was incredible!" He says, hitting the table.

"I swear, I thought my heart was going to fall out." I tell him.

"I have a question, why were you trying to break up that fight with Michael and Todd?" He asked.

"I don't know really. Instinct maybe." I say, leaning back.

"Word of advice, don't do it again. I've learned to never step in between Michael and his fights." He gets up and puts his plate in the sink.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Let's just say, the dentist turns out to be a miracle worker and I learned to use make up." He says, "I'm not saying he will do anything to you, but it's just some advice." 

"Do you know how long?" I ask.

"How long what?" He asked, heading towards the stairs.

"How long has he been using that stuff?" I ask.

"I think he said since he was 18." He says. 

"Wow." Is all I can say. I sit back down in my chair.

"Yeah, but he stopped for awhile, but he started back up apparently. I don't know why." He says.

"I probably do." I say, standing up. "I have to go out for awhile. I'll be back." I head towards the do and walk to the water tower. I climb up the later and sit down. I think about what happened. I think about life. I think about Michael. Mostly Michael. I've been up here for a few hours until I hear someone start climbing up.

"Oh, hi." Michael says.

"Hi." I say, looking back down.

"Oh hey Amanda." A female voice says. I look up and see Hannah.

"Oh, hi Hannah." I say. Why is Hannah up here? 

"What are you doing here?" Hannah asked. 

"Just leaving." I say, looking over to Michael and getting up.

"Don't leave Amanda." Michael says, grabbing my arm.

I jerk my arm out of his grasp, "Three is a crowd Michael." I say, climbing down the tower and calling Lauren. 

"Hello?" She says.

"Yeah, where are you and Kaitlyn?" I ask, walking.

"Home. Why? Are you okay? You sound like you're about to cry." She says.

"I'm not fine. I'm upset, angry, broken." I say, sitting down on the side of the road, letting the tears fall down my face.

"Where are you? We'll come get you." She says.

"I'm like 3 miles from town. Sitting on the side of the road, crying." I say. 

"We're on our way." She says and hangs up. 

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"Okay, so let me get this straight. When you and Michael were little, you guys would go up a water tower? Isn't that illegal?" Kaitlyn says.